I'm new here, I've been wondering since their is frequent discussion, sale, and exchange about cycad. Wouldn't it be better to have another sub-topic devoted for it, such as CyadTalk. I know that there is a Cycad Forum, but it's mainly sales and exchanges in Africa. I like their forum setup and I think it would be good to have one here too. This is just suggestion and would like to know what you feel about this.

This site is paid for by the International Palm Society. The IPS Board of Directors has reluctantly agreed to have a number of sub-forums that don't deal directly with palms (eg. Tropical Looking Plants) but that's as far as it goes. The Board would not approve of, or agree to, a dedicated cycad sub-forum, just like they would not agree to a dedicated sub-forum for any other group of plants.

I agree there should be a bigger focus on cycads but not necessarily to
create another sub-forum. An idea would be to amend the existing "Tropical
Looking Plants" forum to "Cycads and other tropical looking plants". That
may seem biased because I am a member of the Palm and Cycad society of
Australia but one would have to have the blinkers on not to see that cycads
are unlike the other tropical plants in that they do have synonymous place
alongside palms. The number of threads relating to cycads could be a good
indication. I suspect there would be a lot more if a focus on cycads could
be worked out.

In my opinion, and that's all it is, I believe there are too many
forum/sub-forum topics already, so the addition of another would only
clutter up the existing clutter.

I hate to be a wet blanket and I do like cycads as well but it seems clear to me that this forum is dedicated to palms, not other plants. The other plants forum is sufficient, in my opinion, to meet the needs of supporting plants. For example, I just picked up a Ligularia tussilaginea gigantea, but I need no special forum for it to discuss it.

The debate seems to be over in any case, as the BOD of the IPS, is not interested in pursuing it.

1

John Case
Brentwood CA
Owner and curator of Hana Keu Garden
USDA Zone 9b more or less, Sunset Zone 14 in winter 9 in summer
"Its always exciting the first time you save the world. Its a real thrill!"

You guys are missing the point. The IPS Charter, and all the paper work outlining how they operate in order to maintain their tax exempt status, is very specific. That is why some Directors have been opposed to any "talk" other than strictly palms. The only way around it would be to re-structure the IPS and make it the IPCS, and I don't think that is gonna happen. We have already stretched the envelope as far as possible to include the Tropical Plants section and Ohana Nui.

You guys are missing the point. The IPS Charter, and all the paper work outlining how they operate in order to maintain their tax exempt status, is very specific. That is why some Directors have been opposed to any "talk" other than strictly palms. The only way around it would be to re-structure the IPS and make it the IPCS, and I don't think that is gonna happen.

Actually, the IPCFNS, you forgot about the fruit and nut peeps.

0

Matt in Temecula, CAHot and dry in the summer, cold with light frost in the winter. Halfway between the desert and the ocean.

The IPS Charter, and all the paper work outlining how they operate in order to maintain their tax exempt status, is very specific. That is why some Directors have been opposed to any "talk" other than strictly palms.

You guys are missing the point. The IPS Charter, and all the paper work outlining how they operate in order to maintain their tax exempt status, is very specific. That is why some Directors have been opposed to any "talk" other than strictly palms. The only way around it would be to re-structure the IPS and make it the IPCS, and I don't think that is gonna happen. We have already stretched the envelope as far as possible to include the Tropical Plants section and Ohana Nui.

It seems a bit strange to me that the IPS is so hung up on their Tax Status then surely they SHOULD NOT allow Chapters to be .......Palm and Cycad Societies

I agree that a cycad forum would be nice since a lot of palm enthusiasts also enjoy cycads. But, I also think that we have too many separate forums and cycad topics fit well in the "other plants" sub-forum.

You guys are missing the point. The IPS Charter, and all the paper work outlining how they operate in order to maintain their tax exempt status, is very specific. That is why some Directors have been opposed to any "talk" other than strictly palms. The only way around it would be to re-structure the IPS and make it the IPCS, and I don't think that is gonna happen. We have already stretched the envelope as far as possible to include the Tropical Plants section and Ohana Nui.

It seems a bit strange to me that the IPS is so hung up on their Tax Status then surely they SHOULD NOT allow Chapters to be .......Palm and Cycad Societies

Due to some of the same concerns, I am under the impression that the IPS does not officially have Chapters anymore - only Affiliates.

You guys are missing the point. The IPS Charter, and all the paper work outlining how they operate in order to maintain their tax exempt status, is very specific. That is why some Directors have been opposed to any "talk" other than strictly palms. The only way around it would be to re-structure the IPS and make it the IPCS, and I don't think that is gonna happen. We have already stretched the envelope as far as possible to include the Tropical Plants section and Ohana Nui.

It seems a bit strange to me that the IPS is so hung up on their Tax Status then surely they SHOULD NOT allow Chapters to be .......Palm and Cycad Societies

Due to some of the same concerns, I am under the impression that the IPS does not officially have Chapters anymore - only Affiliates.